Atletico Madrid once again suffered UEFA Champions League heartache against Real Madrid as their bitter rivals prevailed on penalties at the Metropolitano.
Conor Gallagher’s first-minute goal gave Atleti a 1-0 win on the night, meaning it finished 2-2 on aggregate and the Round of 16 clash went to spot-kicks.
As they did in the 2016 final of this competition, Madrid prevailed to break Rojiblancos hearts, but this shootout was cloaked in controversy.
MORE: Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid as it happened
Why was Julian Alvarez penalty disallowed?
After Kylian Mbappe, Alexander Sorloth and Jude Bellingham all converted their penalties, Alvarez stepped up with Atletico 2-1 down.
The Argentina forward lost his footing as he struck the ball but appeared to have got away with a dreadful mishap because he still drove his kick high into the roof of the net.
However, referee Szymon Marciniak signalled that there was a VAR review in progress and Alvarez’s successful penalty was then disallowed.
This was because the former River Plate and Manchester City player’s slip meant he made a double-contact with the ball. The rules state a penalty must be taken with a single touch and therefore Alvarez’s strike could not be allowed to stand.
Atletico were back on terms when Jan Oblak saved from Lucas Vazquez but Marcos Llorente clattered the crossbar and Oblak was unable to keep out Antonio Rudiger’s fifth penalty that secured a 4-2 win for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
How did the VAR know Alvarez kicked his penalty twice?
Controversy and conspiracy erupted online almost immediately and it is likely to cloak the post-match conversation in a season where both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have questioned officiating in their domestic league.
When the VAR check began, there was a sense Alvarez might have got away with it, given he still struck the ball with such force. Generally, when players slip and make double-contact with a penalty, the ball will loop rather than rocket high into the net.
Initial replays appeared inconclusive but the decision was conveyed to Marciniak rapidly, only adding to the sense for some that things did not quite add up.
However, on CBS’s Champions League coverage, former FIFA referee Christina Unkel explained the VAR would have been able to call upon the semi-automated technology that is used for offside calls in UEFA’s major competitions.
Unkel said: “From a VAR perspective, they’re taking a look not just at the video but the touchpoints. Semi-automated has about 26 different cameras [for] limb-tracking technology as well as a camera on the ball itself, which gives the VAR the ability to be more concise and direct and know when that ball was actually touched outside of the naked eye.”
Reaction to Julian Alvarez penalty controversy
Speaking after the match, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone said: “Apparently, the referee says he touches the ball, but the ball doesn’t move. I’ve never seen VAR review a penalty in a shootout.
“It looks like Julian is touching the ball when he shoots, and if the referee sees it that way, that’s how it will be. It was a very beautiful day; unfortunately, we didn’t go through. I lost, but I’m at peace.”
Simeone also slightly mischievously introduced a participatory element to his press conference.
“To anyone here: raise your hand if you saw that Julian touched the ball twice for the penalty,” he said. “Come on! And? Ready? Nobody raises theirs. Another question…”
It’s fair to point out it would have taken a brave journalist to raise their hand at that point. Speaking at his own press conference, Simeone’s opposite number Carlo Ancelotti said: “I’ve seen it and I think he touches the second touch with his left foot.”
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, a former player of Simeone’s at Atletico, was in no mood for sympathy. “I think UEFA sees it clearly,” he told reporters. I’m tired of this victimhood, of always crying about things like this.”
